8:56 – Starting my Slog (Speech blog). It’ll be a minute by minute timeline/diary of the 2011 State of the Union. It’ll share my initial response to the events unfolding. A Republican Response Slog will follow. Should be a good time!
8:57 – 6 Supreme Court Justices enter. Including the Chief Justice, amid much speculation.
8:58 – The First Lady has arrived.
8:59 – The Cabinet arrives.
9:03 – Just saw Congresswoman Schmidt sitting next to the aisle. She sits there every time to shake some important hands.
9:05 – “Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States!” Most chilling words ever spoken. Maybe one day I’ll be on the floor to hear those words. Maybe I’ll be the man behind the Sargent-at-arms.
9:07 – Congresswoman Schmidt with ample face time on Fox News
9:10 – Powerful shot of the President with his Congress behind him.
9:10 – Speaker Boehner introduces the President.
9:11 – The 2011 State of the Union begins.
9:11 – Bipartisan recognition of the Speaker.
9:12 – Mention of Congresswoman Giffords.
9:13 – The President says that our disagreements are healthy, but the forces that unite us are greater than those that divide us. Amen.
9:14 – “What comes of this moment is not whether we can sit together tonight, but work together tomorrow. I believe we can. And I believe we must… Governing must be a shared responsibility between two parties… We will move forward together or not at all. Our problems are bigger than parties.”
9:16 – “We are poised for progress.” The economy is going back up. But we must make the quality of life better for all Americans. That’s true progress. Amen.
9:17 – Touts tax cuts passed in December by Democrats AND Republicans.
9:18 – Vice President just looks goofy.
9:19 – “The world has changed. The competition for jobs is real.” But America still has “the most prosperous economy in the world.”
9:20 – America is still the land of opportunity. We have the best universities. “The future is ours to win. But to get there, we just can’t stand still.”
9:21 – “We need to out innovate, out educate, and out build the rest of the world. We need to make America the best place in the world to do business… That’s how we win the future.”
9:24 – “This is our generation’s space race.”
9:25 – The President is addressing using government monies to create green jobs. While innovative grants are great, they can’t be relied upon to build jobs.
9:26 – President calls for 1 million renewable energy cars by 2015. That might be a stretch.
9:27 – The President calls for 80% of all energy to be reusable by 2035. Too much wasted governmental money, in my opinion.
9:29 – Calls on family life to help improve the level of education in America. I agree 100%.
9:30 – Schools should have high expectations. POTUS reveals “Race to the Top” to help new, innovative strategies for classroom. Says it should replace No Child Left Behind. I agree. Plays on the bipartisanship of governors.
9:32 – POTUS calls for a greater level of respect for our teachers. Reward good ones, and stop bad ones. Prepare 100,000 new teacher in science and math fields. Calls on kids to grow up to be teachers. “Your country needs you.” Whole heartily agree.
9:34 – POTUS asks Congress to subsidize college. Disagree. Too much government oversight.
9:35 – Calls for America to have the highest number of college grads in the world by the end of the decade. Yes, but they can’t be given out like candy.
9:36 – POTUS calls for immigration reform to prevent bright, young minds from escaping America. I agree with him here.
9:38 – POTUS propose more internal improvements. We need to stay current. But high speed rail simply will not catch on in America. This is not popular. Look at the Ohio, case. Waste of government money.
9:40 – I thought we have digital textbooks, Skype, and global market? No? Hmm, sounds like we’re making public private entities, not good.
9:41 – POTUS wants to lower the corporate tax rate. Good idea, Mr. President.
9:43 – POTUS calls for taking rules and regulations off businesses. But then wants to put them back on. Thought you were a Republican, for a second. Never mind.
9:44 – Health care brings scattered boos. POTUS asks for Republican ideas and makes recommendation on the floor to reduce book keeping burden. Good. Then wants to tell the companies how to run their businesses. Bad. Government needs to get out of business. Not get back in it. POTUS wants to fix it. Nah, it needs to be completely rewritten.
9:47 – POTUS says the government needs to live within its means. Proposes that we freeze domestic spending. Calls for cuts in community action programs (good), defense (bad, even the VP doesn’t clap). Doesn’t want to hurt the middle class. Only wants to cut “excess weight”. Calls for cutting health care (he might just get himself reelected), including disallowing frivolous medical lawsuits.
9:51 – POTUS calls for bipartisan fix of Social Security.
9:52 – POTUS calls for end to the top 2% tax breaks (bad, I’m a supply-side guy). Also calls for a bipartisan look at simplifying the tax code.
9:54 – POTUS wants to consolidate the federal government. GREAT idea!
9:55 – POTUS pledges to veto any bill with earmarks. Standing ovation from Senator McCain. Ha!
9:57 – “America’s moral example must always shine for all who yearn for freedom.” Amen.
9:58 – POTUS says the Iraq war is ending. Yes, but we must remain to ensure peace in the region.
9:59 – Never heard of the “Tallyban” but we’re going to make sure they don’t get back into power in Afghanistan. Agreed. But we will begin to bring troops home this July, dislike.
10:01 – “We will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you.” YES!
10:02 – POTUS calls for North Korea to keep its commitment to not have nukes. Also touts START. Agreed.
10:05 – POTUS calls for Americans to support our troops. Couldn’t agree more.
10:06 – POTUS talks about repeal of don’t ask don’t tell. Bad idea. There should be a separation. Men and women don’t shower together. Nor should gay men.
10:08 – POTUS talks about how our democracy is good and far beats any dictatorship.
10:09 – POTUS gives “working class shout-outs” to himself, VP, and Speaker. Mentions Cincinnati, pretty cool.
10:11 – POTUS mixes up his words, uncommon. But does acknowledge the man who developed a device to save the Chilean Minors. Chi-Chi-Chi! Le-Le-Le!
10:12 – “I’m not sure how we’ll get to that place beyond the horizon but we’ll get there.” Typical Democrat. Ha!
10:13 – “The state of our union is strong.” The speech ends. At an hour and 2 minutes.
10:14 – All-in-all, I think I agreed more than I disagreed. The President spoke vaguely making his ideas broad, we’ll see how he governs tomorrow. The theme was “winning tomorrow”. I believe we can but it will take had bipartisan work. We’ll see how the coming year goes, but I think the President probably has a lot of independent support. I know as a Republican, I’m ready to see some compromise and see real work be done in Washington, we’ll see. “What comes of this moment is not whether we can sit together tonight, but work together tomorrow. I believe we can. And I believe we must… Governing must be a shared responsibility between two parties… We will move forward together or not at all. Our problems are bigger than parties.” And with that, the 2011 State of the Union ends.
